Ron Winchell | Horse Racing Free Tips

Gun Runner Season To Benefit Tornado-Ravaged Western KY

A no-guarantee season to record-setting first-crop sire Gun Runner will be auctioned off at the conclusion of the opening session of next month's Keeneland January Sale Jan. 10, with all proceeds to benefit victims of deadly tornadoes that struck Western Kentucky earlier this month.

“It is unimaginable the damage and suffering wreaked upon so many of the communities and good people of Western Kentucky,” said Three Chimneys Chairman Goncalo Torrealba. “Three Chimneys, our partner Ron Winchell, and the entire Thoroughbred horse industry share the grief of those whose lives have been impacted and this is a way we felt we could directly help.”

The price of the nomination is expected to exceed $100,000. Three Chimneys and Kentucky Downs will add an additional $100,000 for a total of at least $200,000.

Ron Winchell, who owns Kentucky Downs and who campaigned Gun Runner, added, “With Kentucky Downs and Three Chimneys additional donations, it shows the commitment the racing industry has to those affected by the devastation in Western Kentucky.”

All proceeds will go directly to local communities in the affected counties. Inquiries may be directed to the Three Chimneys' farm office at (859) 873-7053 or to the Keeneland sales office for those interested in phone or online bidding on the season.

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Optionality Gets Third Consecutive Win In Trapeze Stakes At Remington

Optionality has turned into a machine, winning her third race in a row, all by more than six lengths. Her win Friday night was trainer Steve Asmussen's second in the last three years in the $101,100 Trapeze Stakes for 2-year-old fillies going one mile at Remington Park in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Asmussen also won this race in 2019 with Princesinha Julia. It was the first win in the Trapeze for jockey Jose Ortiz and owner Winchell Thoroughbreds (Ron Winchell) of Las Vegas.

On Friday night, Optionality got home a city block in front of everyone. She cruised to the lead just past the half-mile marker in the race and the rest of the field never heard from her again as she drew off to an impressive 8-1/4 lengths victory.

This daughter of the prolific sire Gun Runner, out of the Pulpit mare Simplify, broke her maiden at Indiana Grand in Shelbyville, Ind., two races back on Oct. 26, a victor by 6-3/4 lengths. Her subsequent start was on Oct. 26 at Zia Park in New Mexico in stakes company. She won the $50,000 Zia Princess Stakes also by daylight, checking in 6-1/2 lengths in front.

“She's a very versatile filly,” said the country's all-time winningest trainer Steve Asmussen. “I'm so proud to have another Gun Runner that can do this. She's won at three tracks, at two distances with three different jockeys. This was a good effort at one mile.”

Ortiz was equally impressed. His brother, Irad Ortiz, No. 2 in the nation in earnings in 2021, was in the saddle for the Zia win.

“She broke good,” Jose Ortiz said, “and Steve really had her ready. She started looking around at the end with it being nighttime and the lights and the shadow at the wire, but she got the job done.”

Optionality was the second betting favorite in the race at 2-1 odds and paid $6.20 to win, $3.20 to place, and $2.80 to show. Golden Sights, a distant runner-up, was the 6-5 favorite, three-quarters of a length ahead of Hits Pricey Legacy (4-1) in third. Running time for the mile was 1:41.10 over the fast track, a tad faster (.13) than the Springboard Mile a race later. Interior fractions for the race were :23.91 for the first quarter-mile, :48.49 for the half-mile, 1:13.87 for three-quarters of a mile and 1:27.13 for seven eighths.

The remaining order of finish in the Trapeze was Ring Me Darling (4th), Rollin Chrome (5th), Morning Twilight (6th), Diamonds N Aces (7th), Lilly's Bidness (8th), and Brodie Baby (9th).

It took Optionality four tries to win for the first time, but she hasn't lost since. Her record improved to six starts, three wins, one second, and two thirds for $124,000 earned. She won $60,000 for the trip to the winner's circle in the Trapeze. She is a Kentucky home-bred for the Winchells.

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Gun Runner Breaks Freshman Progeny Earnings Mark

Three Chimneys' Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) set a new record for progeny earnings for a first-crop sire when his total moved past the $3.8-million mark Sunday. Coolmore's Uncle Mo held the previous record of $3,717,490, which he established in 2015. Prior to Uncle Mo, the first-crop progeny earnings record had been held by Gainesway's Tapit, who set the mark in 2008.

Gun Runner took over the record earnings figure when the Tom Amoss-trained Shotgun Hottie won a $92,000 maiden special weight at Churchill Downs Sunday, becoming the stallion's 22nd winner.

“Gun Runner's record start at stud is a crowning achievement for the farm and its philosophy,” said Three Chimneys' owner Goncalo Torrealba. “To surpass a record established by Uncle Mo, and Tapit previous to that, clearly compares Gun Runner favorably at this point in time with two of the most influential sires at stud today. He not only established a new progeny earnings record, but he is also the Leading Sire in America by percent Stakes Winner to runners among all sires, pretty astonishing. Three Chimneys' whole team is grateful to the breeders who continue to support him with great mares, and a special thanks to partner Ron Winchell. He has been fantastic. I am grateful for his continued commitment to breed his best mares and race their progeny. Trainer Steve Asmussen has created his legacy through Horse of the Year Gun Runner and his progeny. Thank you, Steve.”

From his first crop to race this year, Gun Runner has been represented by GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and expected champion Echo Zulu, as well as GI Hopeful S. winner Gunite and graded winners Pappacap and Wicked Halo.

Echo Zulu, Gunite and Wicked Halo are all trained by Asmussen, who conditioned Gun Runner to a Horse of the Year title in 2017, and are owned or co-owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, which, along with Three Chimneys, campaigned the stallion to six Grade I victories.

Gun Runner will stand the 2022 breeding season at $125,000.

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Claiborne Farm Acquires Breeding Rights To Met Mile Winner Silver State

Claiborne Farm announced today that it has acquired the breeding rights to multiple graded stakes winner Silver State. He will stand at the Paris, Ky., farm upon his retirement from racing.

The 4-year-old son of Hard Spun has won seven of 13 career starts, hitting the board in 12 of those starts, and has made over $1.9 million. In 2021 alone, he is 4-1-1 from 6 starts and has made over $1.6 million.

“We are very excited to stand Silver State in 2022,” said Walker Hancock of Claiborne Farm. “Danzig is one of the legends of Claiborne, and we anticipate his legacy continuing through his grandson, Silver State.”

Silver State is being pointed toward this year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar on Saturday Nov. 6, after earning a “Win and You're In” berth by winning the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap. In the stallion-making Met Mile, he defeated three Grade 1 winners, including Knicks Go, a four-time Grade 1 winner of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes.

The highlight of his career thus far is a six-race winning streak spanning 2020 and 2021, which included wins in the listed Fifth Season Stakes and Essex Stakes at Oaklawn Park, the G2 Oaklawn Handicap, and culminating in his signature Met Mile triumph at Belmont Park.

Trained by Steve Asmussen for the partnership of Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Willis Horton Racing, the most accomplished son of Hard Spun has posted wins in each of his three campaigns. Silver State won on debut as a juvenile in a maiden special weight during the September meet at Churchill Downs. At age three, a minor setback knocked him off the Triple Crown trail, but he returned to the races later that year to score allowance wins at Keeneland and Churchill Downs.

“He's a tremendous physical,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “Everyone that's been around this horse is struck by his presence. He really must be seen to be believed.”

Ron Winchell of Winchell Thoroughbreds, who co-owns Silver State with Willis Horton Racing, added, “For any horse to win six races in a row, especially when those victories included races as well-regarded as the Oaklawn Handicap and Met Mile, is pretty incredible and puts him in a special category. Looking ahead to his stud career, we couldn't be more excited about Silver State finding a home at Claiborne. We're looking forward to supporting him with our mares and can't wait to see his offspring.”

A product of the vaunted Stonestreet Farm breeding program, Silver State is out of the Grade 3-placed stakes-winning Empire Maker mare Supreme, and he hails from the family of Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos. He sold for $450,000 as a yearling at the 2018 Keeneland September sale.

An advertised stud fee will be announced at a later date.

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